Gold Coast have won 4 from 8 at home this season and with the scalps of Collingwood and North Melbourne among them, Carlton will have to produce their best to ensure they leave Queensland with the four competition points and their hopes of making the finals, still intact.

Gary Ablett was sensational in Gold Coast’s shock win over Collingwood last week and, despite that being their first win in five weeks, the Gold Coast were more than competitive against the likes of Essendon, Adelaide and Richmond, during that period.

They’ll be full of confidence and given that they already have a win over Carlton (round 22 last year 98 – 86), they’ll be looking to add another big name victim to their growing list this weekend.

If Carlton needed a reality check before this game, Collingwood’s loss served it up.

Carlton were poor against arch rivals Collingwood three games back (118 – 77) and were only able to put their clash against St. Kilda the following week, to bed in the final quarter.

Last week, after establishing a 35 point lead during the three quarter time, survived by one point over North (109 – 108).

Carlton aren’t doing things the easy way at the moment but, as they need to when sitting ninth on the ladder and one win outside of the eight, they’ve won the latest two and that’s the most important thing for them at the moment, no matter how it is achieved.

Carlton’s dominance of the hit-outs will be crucial here. They have scored over 220 more points than Gold Coast this year and with the likelihood of greater possession, they should score enough points to be victorious, if only just.

TIP: CARLTON 1 – 39

Odds comparison by AFL Odds:

Gold Coast Suns	2.60	2.65	2.70	2.65	2.60	2.65
Carlton Blues	1.48	1.48	1.46	1.48	1.48	1.50

Teams:

Gold Coast Suns:

1 Jaeger O’Meara
3 Jared Brennan
4 Maverick Weller (INT)
5 Jarrod Harbrow
6 Alex Sexton (INT)
8 Luke Russell
9 Gary Ablett
10 Dion Prestia (INT)
11 Harley Bennell
12 Sam Day
13 Jacob Gillbee (EMG)
16 Rory Thompson
17 Steven May
18 Trent McKenzie
22 Tom Nicholls
23 Charlie Dixon
25 Danny Stanley
26 Matt Shaw (INT)
30 Campbell Brown
33 Aaron Hall
36 Greg Broughton
39 Timmy Sumner (EMG)
40 Andrew Boston
46 Josh Hall (EMG)
48 Sebastian Tape

In: Charlie Dixon
Out: Josh Hall (Omitted)

Carlton Blues:

1 Andrew Walker
2 Troy Menzel (EMG)
3 Marc Murphy
4 Bryce Gibbs
5 Chris Judd
6 Kade Simpson
8 Matthew Kreuzer
9 Kane Lucas (INT)
10 Matthew Watson
12 Mitch Robinson
13 Chris Yarran
14 Brock McLean
17 Sam Rowe
19 Eddie Betts
21 Josh Bootsma (INT)
23 Lachie Henderson
27 Dennis Armfield (INT)
29 Heath Scotland
35 Ed Curnow
37 Jaryd Cachia (EMG)
38 Jeff Garlett
40 Michael Jamison
41 Levi Casboult (EMG)
42 Zach Tuohy
44 Andrew Carrazzo (INT)

In: Mitch Robinson, Josh Bootsma
Out: Jaryd Cachia (Omitted), Andrew McInnes (Groin)